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This grilled watermelon salad is a flavor party in a bowl! Juicy, smoky watermelon meets tangy feta, fresh mint, basil, and a pop of savory onion. And the best part? It takes just 20 minutes to whip together! It’s bound to be the summer salad of your dreams.
save this recipe!A Summer Salad Sensation
Watermelon is destined for so much more than just eating fresh. Today, we’re busting two myths: watermelon can’t be savory, and it can’t be cooked.
First, we’ll cook the watermelon with a dash of salt and pepper until we see those coveted char marks. Then, we’ll combine it with an abundance of savory ingredients to create a summery masterpiece. Weird food combination? Yes. So delicious? Also yes.
The salty feta and peppery arugula make this grilled watermelon salad really pop. And a drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of fresh herbs bring everything together, balancing the sweet, smoky, and tangy flavors in every bite. If you’ve never tried a savory watermelon recipe, you need to get on it!
Reader rating
“Try cooking down the balsamic vinegar for a bit for a more ‘syrupy’ and dense dressing that gets sweeter as it cooks. Great recipe!” —Jane
Grab These Summery Ingredients
This grilled watermelon salad is packed with tons of fresh ingredients! Don’t worry—they’re all super easy to find.
- Watermelon: To find the best watermelon, look for one that is “sun-kissed.” It should have a deep green color with a large yellow spot (the spot is where the watermelon sat in the dirt and ripened). The darker the yellow spot, the longer it ripened.
- Arugula: Arugula is my favorite green. It has a lemon-like flavor with peppery notes. Cooking shows always describe arugula like that and it weirdly is incredibly accurate.
- Feta: This salty cheese can be found cubed or crumbled. Either works!
- Red Onion: Red onions are typically more pungent than white or yellow onions, making them a great addition to the salty feta and sweet watermelon. Plus, they add a nice color pop!
- Mint And Basil: Mint and basil add a refreshing flavor profile that screams summer! Fresh herbs absolutely make this watermelon salad.
- Dijon: Mustard is a sneaky ingredient that packs a flavor punch! It’s also included for the very scientific reason that it will bind the oil and vinegar (more on that in our guide to making oil and vinegar dressing!).
- Balsamic Vinegar And Olive Oil: The best base for a salad dressing! (You can even spruce it up by making a strawberry balsamic vinaigrette!)
Watermelon Tip
The super high water content of watermelon can make storing leftovers a challenge. For this reason, I recommend only cutting up enough watermelon for what you think you’ll eat that meal. You can store the rest of the salad in the fridge and add watermelon when you’re ready to eat!
Preparing This Salad Couldn’t Be Easier
Everything for this grilled watermelon and feta salad comes together in 20 minutes.
Step 1: Cook The Watermelon
Cut the watermelon into 1-inch slices and remove the rind. Brush it with 1 Tbsp of olive oil. In a grill pan, saute pan, or on the grill, cook the watermelon at medium/high heat until char lines develop and it lightly browns. Remove it from the heat and chop it into large chunks.
Step 2: Assemble The Salad
Gently combine the watermelon cubes, arugula, feta, red onion, mint, and basil. Whisk the remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Gently toss the dressing with the salad before serving!
What does Grilling Watermelon do?
Grilling watermelon allows the flavors and sugars to concentrate, allowing them to shine! It’s very similar to cooking squash, except as it cooks, it firms up instead of softening. How cool! Check out my watermelon steak for another great way to enjoy grilled watermelon.
Recipe Tips
Preheat The Grill: If you’re using a grill, ensure it’s nice and hot before adding the watermelon. Preheating ensures you get those perfect char marks without overcooking the fruit.
Season It Well: Don’t be shy with the salt and pepper before grilling. The seasoning will enhance the watermelon’s natural sweetness and help balance the flavors.
Add Extras: For extra texture, add some toasted nuts or seeds (like pine nuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds) or dried cranberries.
Summer Salad Vibes
Grilled Watermelon Salad (With Feta and Mint!)
Ingredients
- ¼ medium watermelon
- 2 Tbsp olive oil , 30 mL, divided
- 2 cups arugula, 30 g
- ½ cup crumbled or cubed feta cheese, 95 g
- ½ cup sliced red onion, about ½ of an onion
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 5 mL
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook Watermelon: Cut watermelon into 1-inch (2 ½ cm) slices and remove the rind. Brush watermelon with 1 Tbsp of the olive oil. In a grill pan, saute pan, or on the grill, cook watermelon over medium/high heat until char lines develop and it lightly browns, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from heat and chop into large chunks.
- Assemble: In a large bowl, gently combine watermelon, arugula, feta, red onion, mint, and basil. Whisk the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, balsamic (more to taste), mustard, salt, and pepper. Gently combine the dressing with the rest of the salad. Serve warm or chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Try cooking down the balsamic vinegar for a bit for a more ‘syrupy’ and dense dressing that gets sweeter as it cooks.
Great recipe!
Thanks for the tip, Jane! 😀